This paper summarizes the occurrence, and damage caused by, the seven migratory insect pests that are the most serious pests of three major food crops in China. These pests are found throughout China's crop planting areas and migrate to and from other countries. Techniques for monitoring adult populations, using ovarian development to classify female moths, wing type investigation and remote forecasting, are summarized. Accurate prediction of the occurrence of these pests requires development of an integrated national ground and aerial monitoring network, the study of disaster mechanisms, use of intelligent monitoring tools and the identification of critical migration pathways.